Philips’ new augmented reality system has been used in clinical practice for the first time at the Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden.

“This new technology allows us to use augmented reality in combination with 3D imaging for intraoperative surgical planning and navigation of our devices. We have now treated four patients using the system and placed 44 pedicle screws with satisfactory results. We have been able to check the overall result in 3D in the operating room without the need to move the patient to a CT scanner. The radiation dose to the staff is zero and minimal to the patient.” said Adrian Elmi-Terander, principal investigator at Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden. “We tested this workflow pre-clinically for complex thoracic and cervical spine surgeries with very convincing results and look forward to extending it to complex cerebral neurosurgical procedures.”

A pre-clinical study published in Spinehas demonstrated superior accuracy for thoracic pedicle screws placement using an augmented-reality navigation system (Philips) in comparison to those placed freehand.

The system consists of four high resolution optical video cameras mounted to in the frame of a motorised ceiling-mounted C-arm flat detector (Allura Clarity FD20, Philips Healthcare). Between eight and 10 markers were placed on the skin around the surgical site on each of four human cadavers for tracking by the system.

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